Guard plate for refuse truck



Dec. 13, 1966 A. ENGLE GUARD PLATE FOR REFUSE TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 INVENTOR. FLBEJET [/Vd BY' $3 0M FTTOIP/VEYS Dec. 13, 1966 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 A. ENGLE 3,291,275

GUARD PLATE FOR REFUSE TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6 166797 54/616 BY w m United States Patent 3,291,275 GUARD PLATE FOR REFUSE TRUCK Albert Engle, Miamisburg, Ohio, assignor to H. & E. Trucking Company, Miamisburg, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,534 7 Claims. (Cl. 1933) This invention relates to refuse collecting trucks, and particularly to .a container adapted therefor, assisting in the handling of containers and in the emptying of their contents into the truck.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of refuse collecting trucks, whereby such trucks may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efiicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of application, and be unlikely to get out of order.

A further object of the invention is to equip refuse collecting trucks as described for the more facile and litter free emptying of containers thereinto.

Another object of the invention is to adapt refuse collecting trucks to the use therewith of containers of differing structural characteristics.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a refuse truck as described a container adapter plate adjustable for multiple purpose use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container adapter plate as described which may be installed as an accessory addition in existing trucks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a truck possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritoriu-s characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above and other incidental objects in vie-w as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construct-ion, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a view in end elevation, partly broken away, of the rear of a refuse collecting truck embodying an adapter attachment in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, portions of the truck unrelated to the attachment being omitted;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are views in cross-seci-on, taken substantially along respective lines 22, 33, and 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail view in cross-section, taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4 and relatively enlarged; and I FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the latch mechanism shown in FIG. 5.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustratively disclosed in a refuse collecting truck comprising a hopper body 10 to the rear of which projects a support portion 11. In the rear of body 10, above portion 11, is" an opening 12 through which the contents of refuse containers is emptied into the hopper body, to be consolidated therein by a packer blade 13.

Suspended from the hopper body 10, also to the rear thereof, is a bail assembly comprising arms 14 and 15 and an interconnecting bail rod 16, the latter being position'ed generally beneath body extension 11. In the operation of collection systems to which the invention relates, containers are either manually lifted for emptying 3,291,275 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 "ice through opening 12 or are mechanically raised and dumped by a powered rocking motion of bail rod 16 while the upper end of the container is suitably piv-otally held to the truck. In either case, the container assumes with relation to opening 12 a generally inclined position overlying the body extension 11 and is brought to such position by a rocking motion about such body extension.

The body extension 11 extends transversely across the rear of the hopper body. To either side thereof are truck mounted, stationary, vertical frame elements 17 and 18. In accordance with the instant invention there further is disposed transversely across the rear of hopper body 10, and above body extension 11, a container adapter gate or plate 19. The member 19 is transversely elongated, with its long edges forwardly and rearwardly disposed to occupy leading and trailing positions with respect to forward directional motion of the truck. At its ends the plate 19 approaches respective frame elements 17 and 18 whereby substantially to occupy the space between such elements.

Along the trailing long edge of the plate 19 is secured, as by welding, a bar 21 round in cross-section. An arcuate surface is so provided for the relatively sliding contact therewith of containers. The leading long edge of the plate 19 is secured, again as by Welding, to 'a long, central tubular member 22. and to other, shorter length, tubular portions 23 and 24 spaced to either side of central portion 22. Tubular portions 23 and 24 define parts of a hinge structure, further including tubular members 25 and 26 to either side of portion 23 and like members 27 and 23 to either side of tubular portion 24. The

several members 2528 are secured to the hopper body extension 11. The elements 23, 25 and 26 have aligned through openings and receive therein a hinge pin or bolt 29. A like series of openings in elements 24, 27 and 28 has a hinge pin or bolt 31 installed therein. The construction and arrangement of parts is such to provide a pivotal mounting for the gate or .plate 19 about its forward or leading edge. The mounting of stationary hinge portions 25-28 is such to place the leading edge of the plate 19 adjacent to the hopper opening 12 at or near to the lower edge thereof.

The central tubular portion 22 of the plate 19 occupies and fills the space between the laterally spaced apart sets of hinge elements. the portion 22 are closed by welded-in plugs 32 and 33 which preclude entrance of refuse material into such portion and act to limit inward motion of the hinge pins 29 and 31. The hinge pins are suitably installed in the cooperating hinge portions through respective opposite sides of the truck. Central tubular portion 22 is in end to end substantially contacting relation to respective fixed hinge portions 26 and 27 in a manner to close the space between such hinge elements, as noted, and to align plug elements 32 and 33 with respective hinge pins 29 and 31.

The adapter plate 19 is adjustable to alternate positions as shown in full and dotted lines in FIG. 4. The full line position is a raised, inclined position in which the upper surface of the plate is disposed as a deflector, guiding material toward and into hopper opening 12. The dotted line position is a horizontal position wherein the plate is substantially parallel to ground level or to a horizontal plane passing through the hopper body. The latter is a position of rest for the plate and it is so held by engagement with bracket abutments 34 and 35 mounted to the rear of body extension 11, such bracket abutments being provided in any number as may be found convenient or desirable. The adapter plate is held in its raised, inclined, position by means including a rod 36 pivotally connected at its one end to the plate through a U-shaped bracket 37 on the underside thereof.

Additionally, opposite ends of The opposite end of the rod 36 is adapted to engage in a socket 38 fixed to the rear of body extension 11. Thus, upon raising of the plate 19 to and beyond the full line position of FIG. 4, the rod 36 is enabled to be swung into a cooperative relation with socket 38, the rod seating in such socket and retaining the plate in a raised position as it is allowed slightly to descend. In the horizontal rest position of the adapter late, rod 36 hangs vertically in a freely suspended position, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

Other means retaining the plate 19 in a raised position is represented by oppositely disposed latches 39 and 41 mounted in respective frame elements 17 and 18 to project toward one another in an overlapping relation to respective ends of the plate 19. Each latch 39 or 41 is slidingly mounted in a bore 42, in its respective frame member, and is urged outwardly by a confined compression spring 43. At its one end the latch has an inclined face 44 engageable by a respective end of the plate 19 as the plate is lifted to its raised position and cammed thereby out of the path of the rising plate. As the plate passes out of the plane of the latch the spring 43 returns the latch outward, presenting a shoulder 45 thereof to the adapter plate and preventing lowering thereof. At its opposite end the latch projects through and beyond its respective frame element. A cross pin 46 therein limits against a flange 47 to limit thrust of the latch under urging of spring 43. The latch is disabled by manually grasping and pulling on cross pin 46 to withdraw abutment shoulder 45 from the path of plate 19. A segmental flange 48, overlying the flange 47, provides a means engageable by the cross pin 46 upon rotation thereof, while withdrawn, for holding the latch in a disabled position.

The latches 39 and 41 may be considered a supplemental, safety means precluding dropping of the adapter plate 19 in the event of accidental dislodgment of rod 36 from socket 38. Also, the duplication of the latches and their placement on opposite sides of the truck, inhibits their release except through cooperative effort of two persons or by the deliberate disabling of first one and then the other thereof.

In the use of the container adapter plate, in its hori- Zontal rest position the plate serves as a platform and catwalk upon which container handlers may stand and move about. The plate, in this connection, is in substantial rearwardly projecting relation to the hopper body extension 11 and provides a large platform area not only for truck attendants but for containers as well in the manual handling thereof. In its raised, inclined position the container adapter plate in effect provides an upwardly and rearwardly extending projection of the lower edge of hopper opening 12. There is thus insured a litter free dumping of the containers wherein their contents are caught and deflected into the hopper body. The plate has a particular utility, in the latter connection, in the adapting of containers of one size or configuration to use with hopper bodies which may have been designed for use with containers of other size or configuration. Thus, a container which, when attached to the truck and lifted by bail rod 16, would, on account of its size, fail properly to empty into the hopper through opening 12, is enabled by the adapter plate 19 to discharge its contents to and into the hopper body without loss to the front of or in advance of opening 12.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modifications in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a refuse collecting truck, a hopper body having a loading opening through the rear thereof, a container adapter plate disposed transversely of said body adjacent to said opening, means for mounting said plate to said body for pivotal swinging motion to a position parallel to a horizontal plane passing through the hopper body and to another position inclined to said plane, and means for locating said plate in said positions, said last named means projecting rearwardly from said body to support said plate in said parallel position and further including a stop member pivotally dependent from said plate and a socket on said body, said member being engageable in said socket in an inclined position of adjustment of said plate to hold said plate so adjusted.

2. In a refuse collecting truck, a hopper body having an opening to the rear thereof, and a transversely elongated container adapter plate pivotally attached to said body and disposed across the rear of said body inwardly of said opening at a lower edge thereof, said plate being adjustable to a lowered position in which it is substantially parallel to ground level to serve as a container rest and platform and to a raised position in which it is inclined relatively to ground level to serve as a guard deflecting a container contents into said hopper body, said plate being in a rearwardly projecting relation to said body, means fixed to said body and projecting rearwardly thereof to underly and support said plate in a lowered position, and latch means on said plate and on said body comprising cooperative latch elements on said plate and on said body caused to interengage automatically with one another by the lifting of said plate to said raised position for retaining said plate in said raised position, said latch means being manually releasable and further comprising interengaging individually releasable latch elements to either side of said body both capable individually of holding said plate in a raised position and requiring individually to be released to release said plate from said raised position.

3. In a refuse collecting truck, a hopper body having an opening to the rear thereof, a transversely elongated container adapter plate disposed across the rear of said body adjacent to said opening at a lower edge thereof, said plate being in rearwardly projecting relation to said body and having leading and trailing long edges and opposite side edges, means pivotally connecting said plate at its leading long edge to said body, and means for retaining said plate in selected positions of pivotal adjustment, the said means pivotally connecting said plate to said body comprising a hinge connection including laterally spaced apart hinge portions on said plate and complementary hinge portions on said body and further comprising a hinge pin installed in each said spaced apart hinge portions and complementary hinge portions, said plate having a central portion of its leading edge closing the space between said hinge portions and itself closed at its ends to retain said hinge pins in installed position.

4. A refuse collecting truck according to claim 3, characterized by latch means engageable by opposite side edges of said plate in response to the raising of said plate to a predetermined inclined position relative to the opening in said body for retaining said plate in said predetermined position.

5. In a refuse collecting truck, a hopper body of closed construction having sides and a curved end to be swept on its interior by a packing blade, said end having an opening therein, support means projecting to the rear of said body end in immediately underlying relation to said opening, a container adapter plate pivotally connected to said support means and extending transversely of said body, a stationary vertically extending frame element on each side of said body, and latch means on said frame elements to engage respective ends of said plate and hold said plate in a position inclined to the horizontal plane of said body to deflect refuse into said body opening, said latch means comprising a latch de vice installed in each frame element and individually accessible from a respective side of said body for disabling, release of said plate requiring disabling of both of said devices.

6. A refuse collecting truck according to claim 5, characterized by rest means projecting rearwardly from said support means to hold said plate in a released position generally parallel to the horizontal plane of said body.

7. A refuse collecting truck according to claim 5, characterized in that each of said latch devices comprises a latch element laterally disposed in a respective frame element and respectively urged toward the other frame element, said latch element having its opposite ends extending through and beyond the sides of said frame element, one end being adapted to engage in back of an elevated plate and having a cam face for contact by a rising plate, the other end of said latch element being accessible for manual Withdrawal of the latch element to release said plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

A. J. MAKAY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A REFUSE COLLECTING TRUCK, A HOPPER BODY HAVING A LOADING OPENING THROUGH THE REAR THEREOF, A CONTAINER ADAPTER PLATE DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BODY ADJACENT TO SAID OPENING, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID PLATE TO SAID BODY FOR PIVOTAL SWINGING MOTION TO A POSITION PARALLEL TO A HORIZONTAL PLATE PASSING THROUGHT THE HOPPER BODY AND TO ANOTHER POSITION INCLINED TO SAID PALTE, AND MEANS FOR LOCATING SAID PLATE IN SAID POSITIONS, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS PROJECTING REARWARDLY FORM SAID BODY TO SUPPORT SAID PLATE IN SAID PARALLEL POSITION AND FURTHER INCLUDING A STOP MEMBER PIVOTALLY DEPENDENT FROM SAID PLATE AND A SOCKET ON SAID BODY, SAID MEMBER BEING ENGAGEABLE IN SAID SOCKET IN AN INCLINED POSITION OF ADJUSTMENT OF SAID PLATE TO HOLE SAID PLATE SO ADJUSTED. 